ALBANY -- The Ultimate Fighting Championship road show came to the Capitol Tuesday and in efforts to legalize their sport in New York, promoters exhibited the kinder, gentler side of the full-contact combat.

Or, at least, they demonstrated how mixed martial arts is appealing to youngsters such as high school wrestlers who view it as a natural progression and see UFC competitors as role models.

"This is every wrestler's dream," Max Miller, 19, a Shenendehowa High School senior said during an expo at the Washington Avenue Armory in which fellow local wrestlers met UFC competitors as well as the franchise's president, Dana White. Miller said he would like to compete as an ultimate fighter, perhaps after finishing a college wrestling career.

The exhibition came after White as well as other UFC officials and lobbyists made the rounds at the Capitol, meeting with lawmakers as well as Steve Cohen, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's secretary.

The UFC is perhaps the largest franchise for mixed martial arts -- a sport that was banned in New York under the Pataki administration, which criticized its violence.

Since, then, however, more regulations and safety precautions have been added, White said. And the sport, which can be seen on cable TV and pay-per-view has continued to grow.

Mostly though, supporters spoke of the revenue it would bring in not only to sports venues in cities from New York to Buffalo but to surrounding restaurants and hotels.

"Our New York fans are sick of traveling to Newark or Canada for sold-out shows when they could be watching their hometown favorites right here at home," White said.

David Weinraub, one of several lobbyists working for MMA promoters, said legalizing mixed martial arts in the state could generate $50 million in economic activity, including $5 million in tax revenues. He said promoters would agree to an 8 percent "gate tax" on event tickets, a full 5 points more than boxing events currently charge.

"There are a lot of people up there looking for that revenue," Weinraub said, gesturing up the street to the state Capitol which was inundated by organizations and interest groups who were railing against cuts in the proposed 2011-12 budget.

"If our economic engine in this state is going to be MMA that's pretty sad," countered Assemblyman Bob Reilly, D-Colonie, who has made opposition to MMA one of the cornerstones of his tenure. He believes the sport is too violent and sets a bad example.

While the Assembly's budget proposal makes no provision for MMA, the budget plan offered by the Republican-controlled Senate does.

Currently, MMA operates and is regulated in 45 states, promoters say.

Politics, finances and arguments about violence aside, the sport appears to be on a growth track, if the enthusiasm showed by the young wrestlers who attended Tuesday's expo is any indication.

"It's been my dream since I began watching it in seventh grade," said Shenendehowa's Miller.